The final event of the 2024 PGA Tour season concluded in thrilling circumstances, as Maverick McNealy secured his first PGA Tour victory in his 142nd start.
On the back nine, it seemed that McNealy had his name on the trophy, with the American two shots clear and looking impenetrable over the front nine. However, the likes of amateur, Luke Clanton, as well as Daniel Berger and Nico Echavarria chased down McNealy over the final few holes.
Certainly, with Clanton and Echavarria setting a 15-under-par clubhouse target, we were destined for a four-man playoff, with Berger and McNealy also 15-under with a few holes remaining. But, at the 18th, McNealy followed a stunning approach shot with a short birdie putt to get to 16-under and leapfrog the three-way tie for second!
Along with The RSM Classic, there was also the matter of the FedEx Cup Fall and, in equally dramatic circumstances, the biggest winners of the day were Joel Dahmen and Henrik Norlander.
Carding a two-under-par final day, Norlander managed to finish in 120th spot in the standings to secure his full playing status for 2025, but it was Dahmen who showed the most courage to keep his card for next season.
Needing a low round, the former PGA Tour winner made four birdies and an eagle for a blemish-free 64. The performance meant Dahmen jumped to 124th in the standings, one spot higher than the 125 cut-off, with the American keeping his playing privileges for 2025.
Although there were some winners, there were also losers, with Hayden Springer carding a level-par 70 to finish 127th in the standings. Along with Springer, Zac Blair was the unfortunate player to finish in 126th spot, just two points behind Sam Ryder in 125th.
Hi all and welcome to Golf Monthly's final round coverage of The RSM Classic, which also plays host to the final tournament of the 2024 PGA Tour season.
Currently, it's Vince Whaley who leads at 15-under-par following an early birdie in his final round but, behind the American are the likes of Maverick McNealy, Mackenzie Hughes, Daniel Berger and Michael Thorbjornsen.
Along with the event itself, there's also the rather large matter of the FedEx Cup Fall and, with the top 125 earning full PGA Tour status for 2025, it really is all to play for, especially as a number of players are yet to wrap up their playing privileges for next season!
There's an awful lot of story lines out there and, on Sunday evening, we are going to take you through all the action, so why not sit back, relax and enjoy what should be a thrilling day's play...
LEE HODGES MOVES TO -13
It's been a solid start from American, Lee Hodges, who moves to 13-under-par following a birdie at the par 4 fifth. Along with the birdie, he has just parred the par 3 sixth to remain two back.
Elsewhere, Joel Dahmen is three-under through six and has made an excellent start! The reason why I have cited Dahmen is due to the fact that, right now, he is projected 128th in the FedEx Cup Fall standings so, if he can keep up this form, he may well scrape back into the top 125. More birdies will be needed...
HOW DOES THE FEDEX CUP FALL WORK?
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For those wondering, the FedEx Cup Fall is a block of eight PGA Tour tournaments running from September to November during which golfers in positions 51st and downwards on the FedEx Cup rankings can finalize playing eligibility for the 2025 campaign.
The RSM Classic is the final tournament of the Series and, with a win, players can grab a two-year exemption on the PGA Tour, plus a spot in The Players, The Sentry, the PGA Championship and The Masters. A lot is to play for!
ALL CHANGE AT THE TOP
Thorbjornsen puts one close at the par 3 sixth and, following a six-foot birdie putt, moves to 14-under, one back of the leaders. Coming into the week, the American is exempt on the PGA Tour next season as the reigning PGA Tour University No. 1; however, he’d love to qualify for The Players Championship by finishing inside the top 125.
Along with the Stanford graduate, it's now McNealy who takes the outright lead, as the 29-year-old birdies the par 4 fifth following a 15-foot birdie putt. Going into the fifth, it was Whaley who led, but he has just made a costly double bogey following a poor tee shot!
DAHMEN MOVES INSIDE TOP 125
Dahmen needed a big Sunday and, right now, he is delivering just that! The former PGA Tour winner is five-under for his round thanks to an eagle and three straight birdies! He is right on the number with 10 holes remaining...
BERGER MAKES BIRDIE
Berger has struggled since his return from injury but, following a seven-under 63 on Saturday, he is continuing the charge on Sunday. He has just birdied the sixth to move one back, with Berger coming into the week ranked 127th; however, thanks to his excellent golf is now inside the top 100 of the FedEx Cup Fall standings.
NORLANDER STAYING STEADY
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Another player to keep an eye on is Swede, Henrik Norlander, who is currently sat 123rd in the FedEx Cup Fall standings. He started 126th coming into the tournament and has made 10 pars in a row to begin his final round at The RSM Classic.
McNEALY CONTINUES TO LEAD
Away from the FedEx Cup Fall, it's still McNealy who leads in Georgia. At the par 5 seventh he has found the fairway and will have a chance to get to the green in two, so there could be a possible birdie on the horizon for the American, who is 15-under-par.
Behind him, we now have a four-way tie for second, with Hodges, Hughes, Thorbjornsen and Berger all 14-under-par, one back of McNealy.
EXPECT CHANGES
One aspect that needs to be considered today is that, in the FedEx Cup Fall, you should expect the standings to change constantly. Right now Dahmen, who is still five-under for his day, has now moved down to 126th in the standings, despite not dropping a shot. As the round concludes, we will obviously have more of an idea who will be on the PGA Tour in 2025...
WIND PLAYING DIFFERENTLY
This is a jammed leaderboard and, on the ground, the wind is considerably different to the first three days. Adding to the excitement, this could be a thrilling finale at Sea Island Golf Course.
Right now, with the front nine nearing a close, it's still McNealy who leads by one and, at the seventh, he will be disappointed to walk off with par after nearly making the green with his second. Elsewhere, Berger has parred the par 5, with Hodges, Thorbjornsen and Hughes still 14-under.
DAHMEN ON A CHARGE
A clutch front nine when he needed it most 💪@Joel_Dahmen shoots a 5-under 30(!) @TheRSMClassic and is currently projected right on the bubble at No. 125 in the #FedExCup standings. pic.twitter.com/1uZykSRHH4November 24, 2024
WHALEY'S STRUGGLES CONTINUE, McNEALY FINDS ANOTHER BIRDIE
Joint overnight leader, Whaley, continues to struggle as the American bogeys the par 4 eighth to move to 12-under. It's a completely different story for McNealy, who birdies the eighth and extends his advantage at the top of the leaderboard to two. He looked very composed over that birdie putt, as he searches for a first PGA Tour title.
ROUND OF THE DAY
There's plenty of great golf going on right now but the round of the day, score-wise at least, is Chandler Phillips, who is seven-under through 16. The American is comfortably inside the top 125 of the FedEx Cup Fall and searching for a first PGA Tour title.
Checking back in with those near the 125 mark, Dahmen is now six-under for his round following a birdie at the second, his 11th hole of the day. He is back on the 125th spot, whilst Norlander is now one-under for his round and still 123rd!
McNEALY LEADS GOING INTO BACK NINE
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McNealy is searching for his first PGA Tour win and, at The RSM Classic, he is in a great position to do so, as he sits two shots clear going into the back nine. He is 16-under, but there are 10 players within four shots!
LUKE CLANTON MAKING A CHARGE
Amateur Luke Clanton is making a big charge on Sunday and, to begin his back nine, he has gone birdie-birdie to move within one of McNealy! We've already had one amateur win on the PGA Tour this year, could we have another?
MISTAKES BEING MADE
Thorbjornsen and Phillips both make bogeys at the 10th and 18th as Thorbjornsen now 13-under and Phillips 12-under. They are two and three back of the leaders, with Thorbjornsen now outside the top 125!
BERGER BEGINNING TO COOK
Four-time PGA Tour winner Daniel Berger was 127th in the FedEx Cup standings heading into this week, but it looks like he'll get above the cut-off of 125th to secure full playing privileges for the 2025 season. He's T3 and just two behind Maverick McNealy at the top of the leaderboard into the back nine.
POSTON IN POSITION
JT Poston has now made his third birdie in succession to take him to 14-under - just two off the lead. He's running out of road, though - the American has only one more hole to play as he sits T4 with Luke Clanton.
LUKE STILL IN THE HUNT
Just when it looked as though amateur Luke Clanton's chance might be fading after three-putting for bogey on the 13th, he's recovered with a birdie on the very next hole. That puts him back to T2 at 15-under - just one behind leader Maverick McNealy.
DAHMEN STILL CLINGING ON
Dahmen has just three holes remaining here and, at the par 5 seventh, his 16th of the day, he has found the green, albeit 50-feet from the flag. He will have a long two-putt to remain at six-under for the round.
SPRINGER IN THE CLUBHOUSE
Hayden Springer has given it his all and is currently sat 128th in the FedEx Cup Fall. He carded a level-par round of 70 to sit at eight-under-par for the tournament and will need help from those on the course to creep into the top 125.
TROUBLE FOR McNEALY
Playing the 14th, Berger has found the fairway with his tee shot but it's a different story for McNealy, who pushes his 3-wood right. It's unclear as to where it's finished, but he could be in trouble here...
ECHAVARRIA JOINS THE LEAD
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The Colombian won the ZOZO Championship a few weeks ago and, since then, has continued his excellent run of form. At the par 5 15th, he plays a delicate chip and, faced with a 10-footer for birdie, rams it in the back of the cup to join McNealy at 16-under.
McNEALY BOGEYS
Following his poor tee shot, McNealy is unable to get up-and-down from the edge of the green and falls to 15-under, one back of Echavarria.
Elsewhere, Thorbjornsen has found the drink to the left on the par 5 15th and that could play a huge part in his FedEx Cup Fall standing! Up ahead, Norlander has finished two-under for his round and is 120th in the standings.
CLANTON MOVES TO 16-UNDER
Wow! What a birdie for 21-year-old Clanton! The amateur moves into a share of the lead at 16-under following a classy birdie at the 16th. It's impressive from Clanton, but it's equally impressive from Echavarria, who makes a stunning up-and-down after being short-sided.
One of the best rounds of his life! Has Dahmen secured his PGA Tour card for 2025? Well, after a six-under 64, he sits in a projected 124th in the FedEx Cup Fall standings. Seriously gutsy performance from the American!
PRESSURE STARTING TO SHOW
The par 5 15th has been playing as the easiest hole today and, after both Berger and McNealy find it in two, you would think birdies would be on the cards. However, the American pair both three putt and stay at 15-under, one back of the leaders!
18TH TEE SHOTS
Going down the 18th, both Clanton and Echavarria find the centre of the fairway and it will come down to the iron play on the last.
Back on the 16th, Berger finds the green and is around eight-feet away for birdie. He is followed by McNealy, who also finds the green, albeit further away than his playing partner.
MORE NERVES
At the 18th, both Clanton and Echavarria miss the green to the left from the centre of the fairway and will face difficult up-and-downs for par. In terms of lie, Clanton is in the bunker, whilst Echavarria is pin-high on the fairway.
Back on the 16th, both McNealy and Berger miss their birdie attempts and it seems that their putters have gone really cold over past half-an-hour!
FOUR-WAY TIE
Wow... Who could have predicted this?! Both Clanton and Echavarria miss their par attempts at the last and fall back to 15-under!
The duo are in the clubhouse and, currently, in a four-way tie at the top of the leaderboard with McNealy and Berger, who have both found the green at the par 3 17th and will have great looks to jump to 16-under. Incredible drama here...
COLD PUTTERS...AGAIN!
Does anyone want to win this tournament? After missing putts on the 15th and 16th, both Berger and McNealy miss their birdie attempts at the 17th! They head down the 18th needing birdies to pull ahead, or we could have a four-way playoff in store...
McNEALY AND BERGER FIND THE FAIRWAY
Teeing off on the 18th, both McNealy and Berger find the fairway and will have around 190-yards into the green. Who is your money on?
Away from the drama for a second and a big congratulations to Jeeno Thitikul, who finishes eagle-birdie to claim the CME Group Tour Championship by one shot. Unreal play from the 21-year-old!
WHAT A SHOT FROM McNEALY
Berger finds the green and leaves himself 20-feet for a birdie, but it's McNealy who takes the initiative, with the American stepping up and putting his approach from 185-yards to under six-feet. He is in the driving seat to get to 16-under!
After Berger misses his birdie attempt McNealy steps up and rolls in his five-foot birdie putt to claim a first PGA Tour victory! In his 142nd start on the circuit, the 29-year-old can call himself a winner on the PGA Tour!
